Durfee to get $45K in STEM funds

City schools will receive additional state funding for early career education and English language instruction.

Michael Gagne Herald News Staff Reporter @HNMikeGagne

FALL RIVER — City schools will receive additional state funding for early career education and English language instruction.

On Friday, while visiting a middle school in Lawrence, Gov. Deval Patrick announced his administration was investing more than $3 million as part of a Gateway Cities Education Agenda, in hopes to "close persistent achievement gaps and build a 21st century public education system that prepares all students to succeed in the classroom, the workplace and in life," according to a press release.

"Achievement gaps hurt all of us and are completely unnecessary," Patrick said in a statement. "These grants will provide targeted resources to enable all our children to succeed."

Those persistent achievement gaps "disproportionately affect children living in poverty, students of color, students who are English language learners and students with disabilities," he said.

The grants will benefit Gateway City projects that began in 2013 as well as new projects. Other Gateway Cities to receive grant funds include New Bedford, Salem and Worcester.

In Fall River, B.M.C. Durfee High School will receive a $45,000 Career Academies Planning Grant to fully operate a science, technology, engineering and math career academy. The STEM academy had been established in partnership with the Bristol County Training Consortium, Fall River Career Center, Bristol Community College, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and other organizations and employers.

Career academies, such as Durfee's, "increase career readiness by providing high school students with greater opportunities for early career exploration, increasing access to motivating educational experiences through applied learning opportunities both in and out of the classroom, and by creating multiple and seamless pathways to postsecondary educational and employment opportunities," according to the press release.

The district will also receive a $195,000 grant to support the continued operation of the five-week Summer Enrichment Academy as well as the operation of the district's proposed Leadership Academy.

The academy seeks to help English language learners transition from middle school to high school. In partnership with UMass Dartmouth, the academy centers on English language instruction, literacy workshops and college awareness.

"As a Gateway City, Fall River's youth deserve a chance to experience the best education possible, which will help them acquire the skills to enjoy success in their careers," said state Rep. Carole Fiola, D-Fall River. "This allocation provides just that, and I would like to thank Governor Patrick for the announcement of the continuation of this funding."

"I look forward to seeing this money implemented in both Fall River and New Bedford to better meet the needs of our most vulnerable students," added Rep. Paul Schmid, D-Westport.